Dusties emerge from tough slog
Warragul Industrials emerged with the points from a tough slog against rivals Buln Buln.
Consecutive goals to finish the first half proved key in a match where consistent rain and darkness turned the match into a real arm wrestle.
Indeed the Industrials kicked the only goal of the second half to win 6-5 (41) to 2-3 (15).
The Industrials dominated the first quarter but couldn’t take many of their opportunities to score, having just a seven-point advantage to show at the first change.
The Industrials went forward first but the kick had too much on it for Shane Ingham to trap as it bounced out of play.
A handball released Tye Holland but he blazed away with no one home, and Buln Buln were able to clear.
Holland soon redeemed himself to find Jack Blakey on the lead, who kept his kick low to score from long range and have the first goal on the board.
James Taylor sent the ball long for the home side, but the Industrials were able to clear with the advantage of numbers.
The Industrials worked forward from the scoreboard side but Blakey missed his long shot.
Matt Gray cut off an Industrials attack but it would only be a matter of time before the Industrials would break through.
A strong mark from Ingham set up Blakey on the lead, who made no mistake in converting from a similar spot to his earlier goal.
Buln Buln could only create three meaningful entries for the quarter but made the most of their third chance as Jake Pierrehumbert snapped a goal late in the quarter and reduce the margin to seven points at the first change.
The Industrials snuck in a goal from the pocket to begin the second term but the Lyrebirds hit back immediately from a free kick to Bryce Monahan, with a 50 metre penalty to make it certain.
Blakey went long but hooked his kick, only for the Industrials to have their turn at some fortune with a free kick in front of goal gifting their fourth.
A hip and shoulder from Gray saw Josh Peterson come from the ground and while each side traded forward 50 entries, only minor scores resulted.
Consistent rain was impacting on ground conditions as Luke O’Brien took a long shot for the Industrials, only for his shot to sail out on the full.
The match was beginning to become a real slog as Cooper Minichiello played the territory game with a long kick.
Conditions were beginning to frustrate players and spectators alike as scuffles broke out around the ground.
With most other players preoccupied Steven Ballingall looked to take advantage as he had a clear run at ground, only to pull the kick to put it out on the full, much to the delight of the home ground.
A checkside from the pocket produced goal of the day for the Industrials and a handy 17point buffer given the conditions.
Blakey continued to relish the conditions after the break, showing good pace but unable to gather clean possession in the slippery conditions.
Buln Buln’s chance to reduce the gap came after Shane Brewster deliberately out it out of bounds, but the shot missed.
Only minor scores resulted in a torrid third quarter, the Industrials best chance of a goal cruelly beaten by the siren after Ingham had sent the ball long to a two on one inside forward 50.
A hacked kick forward set up the Industrials for their sixth goal early in the final term as the match petered out in difficult conditions.
O’Brien, Ballingall, Minichiello, Holland, Joel Morgan and Brewster were the key players in securing the points for the Industrials.
Mitchell Park, Trent Baker, Gray, Taylor, Pierrehumbert and Jake Baker battled hard for Buln Buln in what was a real scrap.